It’s time to upgrade my planer from a 13 inch dewalt to a 20 inch planer.

I was originally planning on getting a new grizzly G0454Z with the shelix or finding a used on but then I came across something that is way more budget friendly on Craigslist. A g1033 made in 1999. 3 HP straight knife 4 post design in really good condition asking 6 hundred. I figured if it’s a good machine and I like it I could upgrade it too the Byrd cutting head.

My only concern is it being a 3 horsepower instead of 5 horsepower like the new ones. Is it more then enough power ?

12 replies so far

I have a Grizzly 15” that I thought would obsolete my lunchbox. It did not. I suggest whatever you get to keep your lunchbox until you’re convinced no longer need it. I find that I can sneak up on the thickness easier with the lunchbox. The Grizzly (at least mine) has a knurled feed roller, which leaves marks in the stock if I don’t take off enough in the pass. The teeth go deeper than the cutters.

The Grizzly’s got much more adjustability, but with that comes the need to understand how to adjust it and I’m not convinced mine is set up properly.

As for HP, that of course, depends on your use but for me I’d never need that much. 3HP is a good amount of power IMO and unless you’re trying to hog off a massive amount of material in a pass, 3 HP is pretty nice.

I have a Delta 15” with 3 HP, and it does indeed seem to be plenty…..even if the planer was 5” wider. That said, for the price you getting the 1033 for, even if it’s a little underpowered it may still be well worth buying. What Todd mentioned (the serrated infeed roller) is worth noting, it’s very hard to take a really thin cut on the last pass…it has to be deep enough to get the infeed marks. There’s also considerably more maintenance than a lunchbox…occasional gear box oil changes, and chains to lube, etc. Lot more chips as well, may need to add or upgrade the DC. Lots of advantages as well, quieter (especially with a spiral head), handles the toughest woods without a wimper, all day if needed. I’d sure give that 1033 a good look.

It all comes down to what you are going to use it for. S o many questions on the forum ask if someone should buy something. The first question is what are you going to make and that usually answers the question.

I have a 15” planer and a DW735 and use them both. As mentioned, the issue of the serrated infected roller is important. My DeWalt is great for taking small amounts.

You know what else I find myself doing a lot with both planers is leaving the dewalt set up to finial thickness and working my way down to it when making additional pieces after realizing that I didn’t make enough “extras”. More times than I’d like to admit.

It all comes down to what you are going to use it for. S o many questions on the forum ask if someone should buy something. The first question is what are you going to make and that usually answers the question.

I have a 15” planer and a DW735 and use them both. As mentioned, the issue of the serrated infected roller is important. My DeWalt is great for taking small amounts.

- Redoak49

I use my lunchbox planer for dimensioning rough stock. I’m planning on using the twenty inch for dimensioning rough stock as well. I’m also planning on it flattening glue ups. Stuff like cutting boards, shelves, table tops in sections, etc.

I bit the bullet and ordered a new grizzly twenty inch spiral cutter head planer as all my craigslist leads fell through. I get it in a few days and will post what I think about it after assembly.ThanksNick

I bit the bullet and ordered a new grizzly twenty inch spiral cutter head planer as all my craigslist leads fell through. I get it in a few days and will post what I think about it after assembly.ThanksNick

- Beauman22

I have that planer and it runs very smooth. Just remember, as someone else mentioned earlier. Make sure you take a large enough bite on your final pass or you’ll have a lot of sanding to do as the infeed rollers will leave marks all along the wood.

I replaced my Rigid lunch box planer with a 15” general after some fairly exciting pyrotechnics came out of the Rigid. I wish I would have purchased the General years ago. It has a nice finish, extra width, way more power, and much quieter.

I’d wonder if you’re saving much in the end buying used and upgrading the cutter head versus buying new with a cutter head? Think of the time you’ll be spending tuning up the old planer and then all the time spent replacing the cutter head, maybe you’d rather spend this time making things? I know I would